He that is taken and put into prison or chains is not conquered, though overcome; for he is still an enemy.

Good fame is like fire; when you have kindled you may easily preserve it; but if you extinguish it, you will not easily kindle it again.

Studies serve for delight, for ornaments, and for ability.

A sudden bold and unexpected question doth many times surprise a man and lay him open.

I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts.

A man cannot lay down the right of resisting them that assault him by force, to take away his life.

If we do not maintain justice, justice will not maintain us.

We cannot command Nature except by obeying her.

Virtue is like a rich stone, best plain set.

But the church cannot confer the necessary gifts for this ministry, and cannot prescribe for God those upon whom he should confer them.

The condition of man… is a condition of war of everyone against everyone.

If a man’s wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics.

Young people are fitter to invent than to judge; fitter for execution than for counsel; and more fit for new projects than for settled business.

Children sweeten labours, but they make misfortunes more bitter.

All mankind… being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.

Laughter is nothing else but sudden glory arising from some sudden conception of some eminency in ourselves, by comparison with the infirmity of others, or with our own formerly.

The fortune which nobody sees makes a person happy and unenvied.

Judges ought to be more leaned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue.

A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.

The dread of evil is a much more forcible principle of human actions than the prospect of good.

Understanding is nothing else than conception caused by speech.

The worst solitude is to have no real friendships.

Truth is a good dog; but always beware of barking too close to the heels of an error, lest you get your brains kicked out.

Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise.

He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils; for time is the greatest innovator.

Hearing here, therefore, means any receiving of the word of God whether it be communicated to us by preaching, reading, or any other way.

Fat is a way of saying no to powerlessness and self-denial.

There is a difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man is really so; but he that thinks himself the wisest is generally the greatest fool.

For my name and memory I leave to men’s charitable speeches, and to foreign nations and the next ages.

The place of justice is a hallowed place.

All wealth is the product of labor.

I put for the general inclination of all mankind, a perpetual and restless desire of power after power, that ceaseth only in death.

It is a strange desire, to seek power, and to lose liberty; or to seek power over others, and to lose power over a man’s self.

He that hath knowledge spareth his words.

The genius, wit, and the spirit of a nation are discovered by their proverbs.

It is easier for a tutor to command than to teach.

Sudden glory is the passion which maketh those grimaces called laughter.

When a man laughs at his troubles he loses a great many friends. They never forgive the loss of their prerogative.

The remedy is worse than the disease.

Life, an age to the miserable, and a moment to the happy.

A little philosophy inclineth man’s mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men’s minds about to religion.

The counsel of God is, as it were, his deliberation over the best manner of accomplishing anything already approved by the understanding and the will.

Reasoning draws a conclusion, but does not make the conclusion certain, unless the mind discovers it by the path of experience.

Acorns were good until bread was found.

He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune; for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief.

Pictures and shapes are but secondary objects and please or displease only in the memory.

The reason why men enter into society is the preservation of their property.

During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that conditions called war; and such a war, as if of every man, against every man.

Riches are a good hand maiden, but a poor mistress.

I do not believe that any man fears to be dead, but only the stroke of death.